Mayotte: first three cases of “indigenous” cholera confirmed

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The first three cases of “native” cholera have been identified in Mayotte, where ten imported cases had been recorded since mid-March among migrants particularly from the neighboring Comoros, the Regional Health Agency (ARS) announced on Friday.

These cases, the first to result from internal contamination in the Indian Ocean department, were “identified in the commune of Koungou”, north of Mamoudzou, said Olivier Brahic, director general of the ARS, during a ‘a press conference. “The most likely” being that these patients were contaminated by “a sick person (who) did not present themselves to the Samu”, he continued.

The three people concerned are a woman, a man and an infant, with no biological link between them.

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“We must monitor this situation closely, we are in the process of putting in place measures to identify contacts, put them on antibiotics and we are organizing the vaccination of the inhabitants of this area,” added Mr. Brahic.

At the same time, a screening center will be opened on site and 20 doctors and nurses will arrive as reinforcements on Saturday in Mayotte.

Before these three cases, ten had been confirmed in Mayotte since March 18, but all imported, most of them on people coming from neighboring Comoros where an epidemic has been raging since the beginning of the year and through which many migrants from of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Cholera is an acute form of diarrhea that can kill within hours and is contracted by bacteria usually transmitted through contaminated water or food.

In February, the ARS presented a response plan in the event of the disease being introduced into the overseas department.

Health controls at borders and field interventions have been strengthened and a secure hospital care circuit has been set up.